Hose supporter



April 25, 1939.

W. E. HATHEWAY HOSE SUPPORTER Original Filed Sept. 22, 1954 x f [72 ver? for Pff/22H72 Ha/ezdj/ www Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 22, 1934, Serial No. 745,069

Renewed March 10, 1938,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to hose supporters that employ clasps of the loop and button type, but more particularly has reference to the construction of the button element.

'I'he main object of the invention is to `decrease the cost of manufacture by making the height of the button as short as possible so as to overcome the defect of the present buttons which project so as tomake unseemly and uncomfortable bulges in the clothing, this being more noticeable in the light clothing worn by women particularly in the summer.

It will be manifest that the space between the underside of the button head is at a minimum when it is no greater than the thickness of the metal loop, and I have succeeded in producing such a button.

It is true that garment clasps of this type, wherein a button having a rubber head and collet has been secured to a metal base by a metal stud passed through said head and collet and riveted to the base, the head of the stud being comparatively small and firmly embedded by such riveting Within a countersink in the top of the head, and, while I have followed this method in making my button, nevertheless I have utilized a minimum amount of rubber, have reduced the button to its lowest possible height, and have used the metal stud not only for securing the button -to its base but for reinforcing the thin rubber head so that it cannot become so flexed by strains of the garments, particularly stockings, so that the garment would pull loose from the clasp.

Since, in garment clasps of this sort, as now used, the space between the underside of the rubber head is usually considerably greater than the thickness of the loop, this pulling loose of the garment is a frequent occurrence, but, since in my clasp said space is not greater than the thickness of the loop, this pulling loose of the garment is impossible, even with a very thin rubber head, it being borne in mind that said head is reinforced by the head of the metal stud.

In the instance of a b-utton head and collet made of solid rubber with or without a metal stud, the head of the button is either quite thick, the collet usually objectionably long, and the space beneath said head greater than the thickness of the loop, which is objectionable on account of the height of the button, or, should such head be comparatively thin, with no metal stud, and the space beneath the underside of the head no greater than the thickness of the loop, the pulling loose of 55 the garment would be frequent since the head i151 self would be exed outwardly to such adegree as would permit ready withdrawal of the garment.

In order that my invention may readily be understood andap'preciated, ydrawing is furnished which accompanies and forms a part of this ap- I5' plication and which is to be read in connection with the latter, and, referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation on an enlarged scale, showing my invention applied as a clasp to a garment. f

Figures 2 andf3 are sections respectively at the line 2-2 and 3-3 of-Figure l. f

Similar numerals of reference will be used to denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, I is the usual metal loop, 2 the suspension tape depending from said loop, and 3 generally denotes the button which consists of a head 4 and a collet 5 that are integral and made of exible rubber, and a stud that is passed through a countersunk hole in said head and through the underlying part of the tape 2. This stud at its inner end is reduced in diameter, as seen more particularly at la in Figure 3, and this reduced end extends through the tape and a perforation 'I in a metal base plate 8, and is riveted thereto, While the stud has a head 9 which is contained Wholly within the countersink I0 in the rubber head 4.

The above description is'analogous to that of the usual button which has been in use for many years, but, as before stated, this old button is not satisfactory in that it is too long owing both to the thickness of the rubber head and the length of the rubber collet, which renders the space between the underside of the rubber head and the metal base plate, or more properly thev tape that overlies said plate unnecessarily too great, in fact, fully twice the thickness of the throat Il of the loop I, and this is apparently necessary, sinceV the head of the metal stud in these old buttons is simply for the purpose of holding the thick rubber head firmly to said plate.

On my button, the rubber head is comparatively thin and the collet very short, and the head of the metal stud functions not only to hold the rubber head rmly to the base plate, but also it is large enough to reinforce the rubber head which latter is flexible. And, moreover. the distance below the underside of said head is not greater than the thickness of the throat ol? the metal loop, as is clearly shown at'Figures 2 and 3, and when the garment, usually the two-ply upper end of a stocking, as denoted by the numeral I2, is placed over the button, and

the loop positioned and the garment drawn into the narrow throat Il, the rubber head, being flexible, will be forced outwardly at its lower and side portions, as shown at Figures 2 and 3, but will be prevented from too great a flexure by the reinforcing head of the metal stud. Owing to the fact that the space beneath the underside oi the rubber head is not greater than the thickness of the throat of the metal loop, there will always be a firm ,and stable gripping of the garment by the rubber head and loop so that there is no space whatever through which the A garment can be withdrawn from the clasp by" undue strains, and this is brought about by the4 reflex action of the reinforced thin rubber head and the short collet, the length of 'the 'latter being no greater than the thickness of the throat of the metal loop, and thus I am enabled to provide a button of minimum height.

In my improvement the ends of the 'tape may be stitched together as shown at b' in Figure 2, or they may be secured in any suitable manner.

I have illustrated and described -a preferred and satisfactory embodiment `ofmy invention, but it will be obvious that changes may bermade within the spiritand scope4 thereof, as defined in the'appended claim. i

[What is claimed is: y

In a garment Supporter clasp of the type including a flexible supporting base member, a anged button of rubber secured thereto near its lower end, anda rigid loop member hingedly connected near the upper end of said base member and having a contracted parallel sided throat portion for engagement with said button between its ange and said base member, the improvement wherein said button comprises a head formed of flexible resilient rubber having a collet and a laterally projecting annular flange at its upper end, said button having a central axial passage therethrough, a studengaged in said passage and secured to said 'base Amember and having a laterally extending head at the vupper side of said rubber head adapted to axially confine said collet to retain it against iiexing, the Alateral dimension of said flange between its outer, periphery andsaid collet being greater than the thickness of said ilange between its upper and lower-surfaces, whereby said ange is capableof easy flexing relatively to said co1- 

